Wisdom has an ear!

(Proverbs 1:5)  “Let the wise hear and increase in learning…”

The knowledge of what the wise man would look like; a common drive in most human beings, after all who wants to be known as a fool? And yet it often takes becoming a fool before we begin to understand wisdom. King Solomon had 1000 wives (300 wives, 700 concubines), which could not have been easy! Imagine the strife it must have caused and yet he is classed amongst the wisest of men. How did he arrive with that title? May we remember it is a title given to him by the inspired Word of God, the Bible! 

Was not the trial of life his teacher!

Let us look at the mindset of King Solomon; “And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.” (1Kings 3:7-12)  

The Apostle James reiterates the importance of seeking out wisdom in our lives; “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5): - But remember when we ask, it will come with its own price, it must teach us to die.

King Solomon lived in a dispensation when the law was the schoolmaster for the household of the Jewish faith. Animal sacrifices for sins committed, a way of life. Hard for us in the 21^st Century to relate to this type of lifestyle, there are activist that would sooner hang a person for animal cruelty than a person murdering a thug.

Yet on further thought it is only by experience that we are able to sympathise with others in times of difficulty. It was up to the high priest to enter a chamber known as the holy of holies, to present himself before God for the sins of the people. Sometimes his sacrifice was accepted but there were times when they had to pull him out by the rope tire to his leg. His sacrifice not accepted and he then died where he stood. Imagine the turmoil in that man’s mind, a proxy for others and it could have cost him his life.

The Lord Jesus now steps in; His time is at hand; except for Him there was no possibility of survival. Die He must! The bible coins this phrase; “therefore I have set my face like a flint”. The Lord Jesus knew what needed to be done and He never flinched. In fact they tried their utmost to get Him to copout on His commitment to His Father and yet He went the extra mile; “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6): - The Lord Jesus did more than accept His fate, He freely offered it! Why? So that sinners like you and me could find forgiveness through repentance and go free. No longer would we have to stand trial for our sin.

But what did this teach the Lord Jesus if anything and what can we learn from His example? The Apostle Peter gives us insight to this question; “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” (1Peter 4:1)

We must arm our minds to suffer in the flesh, why? So that we may learn to stop yielding to sin and it rule. What does this have to do with wisdom? Everything! The world and its principles teach us this attitude, an eye for an eye. But love trains us to turn the other cheek. And the only way we will learn to love one another as ourselves, is to die. How will we die? By suffering! It is not a complicated concept to understand, where it becomes tricky is our willingness to die.

May God help us become more like our great and glorious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone